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Channel 4 has announced it is launching a review into the Big Brother programme following the race row which has engulfed the show.

The channel’s chairman Luke Johnson said Celebrity Big Brother would remain on air until its completion next week, but Channel 4 had commissioned a review of the “editorial and compliance processes” which support it.

Speaking outside Channel 4’s offices following a board meeting to discuss the future of the show, Mr Johnson said the channel’s board abhorred racism and profoundly regretted any offence caused to viewers.

“Clearly many people were worried and offended by what they saw. I want to reassure them that we take the views of our audience very seriously and profoundly regret any offence that may have been caused,” he said.

“All board members of Channel 4 abhor racism. We are also committed to ensuring that the channel continues to fulfil its remit to explore important social issues.”

The statement came as senior managers briefed the board’s eight non-executive members on the network’s handling of the damaging row about racist bullying of Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty.

Mr Johnson said the board would receive a full report and would seek to identify lessons that could be learned for the future. But while he said Channel 4 remained focused on the completion of Celebrity Big Brother over the next week, he made no mention of the long-term future of the show.

He said: “The Channel 4 board recognises that the events of the last week on Celebrity Big Brother have provoked an unprecedented level of public complaint. We believe this has triggered an important debate.”

Mr Johnson said they were expecting to hear from Ofcom shortly about the number of complaints the media watchdog had received over the show and requesting a formal response to concerns. The commissioned review would assist that process, he said.

Ofcom earlier said it had received about 40,000 complaints about the programme. Viewing figures for Friday’s eviction show peaked at 8.8 million, Channel 4 said.